2009 Volkswagen Rabbit

2009 RABBIT: PRACTICAL, SPORTY, FUN, EFFICIENT, AFFORDABLE

Although the 2009 Rabbit is priced as an affordable runabout, it's built and executed for what it really is: the only German-engineered, German-styled, German-produced, and German-badged hatchback offering in the Ú.S.
compact segment.
True to its brand, the Rabbit is different, original, honest and very approachable with a starting price of $15,890 for the two-door model. A four-door model starts at only $18,990 (automatic only) despite it being one of – if not the – best equipped offerings in its class with fun-to-drive characteristics that deliver on the brand's core promise.





• Standard equipped with ESP

• IIHS Top Safety Pick



Manufactured at Volkswagen's Wolfsburg, Germany, production facility, the sporty 2009 Rabbit exhibits class-leading fit and finish inside and out as well as impressively damped interior acoustics.

Exterior
With a simple and understated look, the exterior of the Rabbit is a modern version of the classic original that first appeared in 1975. Exterior panel colors are matched with body-color upper bumpers and moldings, door handles, front grille and mirror housings.

Black moldings are a distinguishing trait of the two-door Rabbit model, while both models carry crystal-clear halogen headlamps and dual exhaust tips for added appeal. While its well-dressed proportions and Volkswagen-familiar amenities are impressive, the core value of the Rabbit comes in its structure; chassis hardware and
related technologies; and powertrain combinations – all the byproducts of authentic German-born and bred engineering geared to make driving no task at all.

The hatchback's inherent goodness begins with an extremely stiff, laser-welded unibody construction. Mounted to it is an independent McPherson front suspension with specifically tuned coil springs; bushings; telescopic shock absorbers and integrated stabilizer bar.

Chassis and Suspension
The multi-link rear suspension carries the same virtues as the front, and an athletic footprint promises agility at first sight The end result is a ride and cornering stability that are comfortable, planted, and instill confidence on crowded avenues or the highway.

A rack and pinion, electromechanical, power-assisted steering system carries a quick ratio for delightful responsiveness and rock-solid on-center feel uncommon on a vehicle of the Rabbit's size. Power assisted, dual circuit, vented front and solid rear disc brakes. supplemented by an anti-lock braking system (ABS), add to the hatchback's surefooted nature.

Directing all the hardware beneath is an electronic brake system that includes anti-lock brakes, Electronic Stability Program and additional algorithms for Anti-Slip Regulation (ASR); Electronic Differential Lock (EDL); Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA); and Electronic Brake-pressure Distribution (EBD).

Engine and Transmission
Both the two- and four-door Rabbit come standard with Volkswagen's 2.5L inline five-cylinder engine that delivers a more-than-peppy 170-horsepower at 5700 rpm and quite noticeable 177 lb.-ft. of torque at 4250 rpm. The transverse-mounted DOHC, aluminum block and cylinder head powerplant carries four-valves per cylinder, maintenance-free hydraulic lifters and Motronic® sequential multi-port fuel injection. The two-door Rabbit comes standard with a five-speed manual transmission, which can be option-upgraded to a six-speed automatic with Tiptronic®, providing drivers the choice of being – or not being – involved in the gear selection process. The four-door comes standard with the Tiptronic automatic.

In either configuration, the Rabbit's performance and fuel economy numbers add up to fun without guilt. With the manual, the hatchback travels from zero-to-60 in 7.8 seconds with an Autobahn-like electronically governed top speed of 130 mph. When mated with the automatic, zero-to-60 mph is achieved in eight-seconds flat with the same
peak speed. With the manual, the Rabbit gets 29 mpg on the highway, the automatic gets 30 mpg on the highway.

Active and Passive Safety
Like all Volkswagens, the Rabbit includes the Prevent and Preserve Safety System, consisting of more than 45 safety features. As standard safety equipment, the Rabbit includes – but is not limited to -- six airbags (dual front; dual front side thorax; and side curtains); rear-impact optimized front head restraints; front seatbelt pretensioners with load limiters; and three-point safety belts in all five seating positions (two front, three rear) with emergency locking retractors. Rear side thorax airbags for outboard passengers are optional equipment on the Rabbit four-door offering.

The Rabbit, like all 2009 Volkswagens, comes standard equipped with the Electronic Stabilization Program (ESP). This is important because the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that ESC results in 35 percent fewer single-vehicle crashes and 30 percent fewer single-vehicle fatalities in passenger
cars. Volkswagen is one of the only original equipment manufacturers to provide an electronic stability control system on its entire product line as standard equipment – ahead of the NHTSA deadline requiring vehicles in the 2012 model year to include stability control systems. ESP compares the driver's intended course with the vehicle's
actual direction; if ESP detects a discrepancy, ESP automatically brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power as needed in certain driving circumstances to help maintain directional control.

Warranty
The 2009 Rabbit comes with 24-hour Roadside Assistance for four years or 50,000 miles (whichever occurs first), plus new vehicle warranties including:
• Five-year/60,000 mile (whichever occurs first) Powertrain Limited Warranty.
• Three-year/36,000 mile (whichever occurs first) New Vehicle Limited Warranty with wear and tear items and adjustments.
• 12-year unlimited distance Limited Warranty against corrosion perforation.

The Rabbit, like all 2009 model year Volkswagens, is included in the no-charge Carefree Maintenance Program. Únder this program all of the Rabbit's scheduled maintenance, as described in its maintenance booklet, is covered for the length of the New Vehicle Warranty -- three years or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first. Since all
current Volkswagens, including the Rabbit, use synthetic oil, combined with state-of-theart German engineering, a 5,000 mile oil change is no longer necessary. This means that like all current Volkswagen owners, Rabbit drivers can travel farther between oil changes.

Source - Volkswagen